1995 Rebe Capunch

"I called today to talk to you about the inappropriate way that some of the young ladies in your youth group are dressing to go to church."
"Okay."
"Well, it is distracting the boys and causing them not to pay attention."
"What boys?"
"Well my son, I think, but others as well. It is just distracting."
"Okay."
"Well what are you going to do about it?"
"Uh, I don't .. uh.. I don't know. Who is the problem exactly?"
"The girls."
"What girls? I just don't see that many girls dressing inappropriately."
"Well, that one Christy (name is not real) girl. She is always wearing those leotard things and showing her cleavage and ..."
"Ma'am, you know that her family isn't saved and she just got saved and I am certain that God will teach and show her over time a bit more modesty but I really don't think it is as bad as you..."
"It is terrible! It is distracting! And you should do something about it. It is your job to teach them..."
"Rebe, have you talked to her about it?"
"I just couldn't. It wouldn't be right. It is your job."
"Rebe, don't you think that God is thrilled that she accepted Him as Savior and don't you think that if it bothers Him, He will help her learn? Do you really think this is most important to Him right now?"
Silence, "It just isn't proper. She is distracting boys from learning about God in church."
Finally my blood pressure went off the mark, "Rebe, can I be honest with you. I mean I don't want to offend you or say anything wrong but first, I haven't seen the boys being distracted and, quite frankly, I didn't notice her being dressed at any point in any way that was provocative. Further, she is a young girl, doesn't have boobs and most definitely doesn't have any cleavage to show. I think that you are obsessing a bit on this. What is the real problem here?"
"You can't talk to me that way. It is improper..."

The discussion finally ended and I realized that seeing hundreds of youth won to the kingdom of God simply was not exciting to many people. They were more concerned with those young people being what they thought they should be like. They wanted clones not lost people who had found Christ and would grow to be like Christ. They believed that their perspective was the right perspective. Becky was one of them. Her eyes were off the ball. My bubble was burst because I thought everyone would be thrilled that Christy was saved.

Rebe’s ministry area was music. Her leader was the guy who made me sit in the backseat because I didn’t have a masters degree. That entire ministry got its eyes off of the ball and spent as much time critiquing other ministries as it did doing its own ministries. The ministry was focused on the “what” not the “who” and so was Rebe. I wonder if the pastor had fixed the music guy and helped him to be a solid leader, would the music guy have fixed Rebe? If the music guy could have found the beauty of the “who”, would his followers have been influenced? Well, they would have at least had the opportunity.

So I wonder, was it really Rebe’s fault or did the men who led her lead her to the wrong place - in fact, did they lead her at all? I think not. I think Rebe ended up on a wagon of unhappy, judgemental, know-it-all's while she was looking for real friends and answers. Sure, she got on the wagon but what was that wagon doing in Church?